Marlborough: Crane topples, but no injuries

Wednesday

Jul 23, 2014 at 12:01 AM

By Kendall HatchDaily News Staff

MARLBOROUGH – Fire officials said that no one was injured when a crane toppled on Lakeshore Drive Tuesday afternoon and was left teetering precariously near a home.Deputy Fire Chief Ron Ayotte said the crane, part of a tree removal operation, tipped in front of 237 Lakeshore Drive at about 12:38 p.m.The crane was left teetering with one wheel and one stabilizing arm touching the ground and was resting on the boom, Ayotte said. The crane was tangled in electrical wires, making the situation even more complicated, Ayotte said.Occupants of the home, which sits on the shore of the Fort Meadow Reservoir, had to be evacuated by boat because the front of the home was blocked by the fallen crane and was considered dangerous because of the wires, Ayotte said."It’s a complicated situation," Ayotte said.One elderly resident had to be taken from the scene using a neighbor’s pontoon boat, according to the police scanner.Ayotte said the tree company was removing a "very large oak tree" from the property. He said the crane's boom was fully extended when the vehicle tipped.Ayotte said National Grid was called to the scene to ensure the electrical lines wouldn’t be a hazard while the crane was being removed. Officials from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration were called to the scene to investigate, Ayotte said.He said the tree removal company had called in another crane company to get the crane upright. Ayotte expected that the operation might require an additional two or three cranes at the scene.Ayotte said he did not know the name of the company doing the tree removal work.Kendall Hatch can be reached at 508-490-7453 or khatch@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @Kendall_HatchMW.